Pineapple plant named ‘Vintage Ruby’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct pineapple plant named ‘Vintage Ruby’, comprising certain unique traits, including color of the fruit&#39;s shell at the immature state that is deep dark purple, and at the mature state is bright reddish/purple.

Genus and species: Ananas comosus.

Variety denomination: ‘VINTAGE RUBY’.

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BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct pineapple variety of Ananas comosus, hereinafter referred to as the variety named ‘Vintage Ruby’. The variety has been developed by sexual crossing between plants, selected by mass selection of the hybrids. The process started during the year 2008, using the variety A. comosus var. comosus ‘Morada’ cultivar (non-patented) as parent, brought from Kunia, Hi. This plant was crossed with the variety ‘MD-2’ (non-patented), commercially known as ‘Del Monte Gold’. The pineapple plant ‘Vintage Ruby’ was developed through sexual hybridization (hand-pollination) at Buenos Aires, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. The development process took eleven consecutive years of hybridization, planting and selection. The new variety ‘Vintage Ruby’ was the final result of a back-cross of one selected plant of the F1, with a selected plant of ‘MD-2’, to achieve the combination of characters of interest to consider ‘Vintage Ruby’ as a variety of commercial potential.

The main objective of the hybridization program was to obtain a pineapple plant with an attractive fruit in shape and size, plus excellent organoleptic traits that satisfy market requirements. Finally, the new cultivar was developed for the purpose of seeking a red or dark purple fruit shell, characteristic that distinguish it from its parental materials. The new cultivar was effectively asexually reproduced true-to-type at Buenos Aires, Puntarenas, Costa Rica via leaf crown budding technique.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is related to a new and distinct pineapple variety of the Bromeliaceae family, which was derived from a backcross (BC) between the ‘MD-2’ and the F1 (‘MD-2’ X ‘Morada’ cultivar), through hand-pollination and mass selection process during eleven years.

The selected hybrid is distinct in most characteristics to the ‘MD-2’ parent and was more alike to the F1 parent. The color of the fruit's shell at the immature state is deep dark purple, and at the mature state is bright reddish/purple. The selected backcross 1 (BC1) plant's fruit has an internal quality and pulp color similar to the ‘MD-2’ fruit. The total soluble solid contents (TSS), citric acid, ascorbic acid, pulp color, and the size of the fruit are similar to the ‘MD-2’. The fruit is cylindrical to slightly conical in shape, has a very pleasant aroma, and delectable taste, similar to the ‘MD-2’. One important trait is that it exhibits the hybrid vigor, producing higher yields in comparison to its F1 parent.

The new variety is characterized by purple/brownish color in the leaves, smooth with occasional presence of spines at the tip. Leaf color is similar, but not equal to the F1 and to the original ‘Morada’ cultivar, contrasting to ‘MD-2’.

This plant does not produce slips unlike its parents, which do always produce at least one (See FIG. 1).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying pictures illustrate the overall appearance of the new Ananas comosus var. comosus ‘Vintage Ruby’ showing the colors as reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately described the colors of ‘Vintage Ruby’.

FIG. 1. View of the new variety ‘Vintage Ruby’ at 13.5 months (date of planting (DP) to date of forcing (DoF)=8 months+5.5 months after forcing (MAF)) showing the absence of slips.

FIG. 2. View of a group of plants ‘Vintage Ruby’ at 10.5 months (DP to DoF=8 months+2.5 MAF).

FIG. 3. Side view of inflorescence of ‘Vintage Ruby’ at 10.5 months (DP to DoF=8 months+2.5 MAF).

FIG. 4. Shows a close-up of an immature fruit ‘Vintage Ruby’ at 11.3 months (DP to DoF=8 months+3.3 MAF).

FIG. 5. Shows a close-up of a mature fruit ‘Vintage Ruby’ at 13.6 months (DP to DoF=8 months+5.6 MAF).

FIG. 6. Shows the internal, lateral and transversal appearance (base and third slice) of harvested fruit at 13.6 months, harvested at fruit external color 4.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the plant will be apparent from the following detailed botanical description, as illustrated in the accompanying photographs.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Ananus comosus cultivar ‘Vintage Ruby’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. However, the plants were grown under environmental conditions and cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial pineapple growing operations. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary depending on the environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, light intensity and photoperiod without any change made to the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describing plants of ‘Vintage Ruby’ are based on observations made under optimally fertilized and growing conditions, in the region of Buenos Aires, Puntarenas, Costa Rica (latitude 9.148773° and longitude −83.336024°), a 350 masl, where the temperatures generally range from 14° C. to 37° C., and an annual rainfall average of 3251 mm.

The plants were developed at Buenos Aires-Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

The color terminology and designation reported here are in accordance to the Munsell Color Notation for Plants Tissues published by Munsell Color Macbeth, a division of Kollmorgen Corporation, Baltimore, Md. USA.

The following description was made at the floral induction of the population derived from the F1 hybrid obtained by the leaf crown budding technique and was planted in 2019.

-   Plant identification: Name: Ananas comosus var. comosus. -   Parental Lines: Selected plant F1 backcrossed with A. comosus var.     comosus ‘MD-2’. -   Origin: Conventional genetic improvement, through crossing,     backcrossing and clonal selection, with a final G2 propagation by     vegetative means. -   Classification: Botanical: Bromeliaceae or pineapple family.     Subfamily: Bromelioidae. Genus: Ananas. Subgenus: comosus. Variety:     ‘Vintage Ruby’. -   Commercial: Bromeliad fruit plant (pineapple). -   Form: Terrestrial (in plantation), with overlapping, sessile leaves     from a funnel-formed rosette, surrounding a composite inflorescence     (during anthesis), with 0 slips in the fruit peduncle and suckers     that are produced in the stem and originate subsequent crops. -   General description: ‘Vintage Ruby’ (before anthesis). -   Stem:     -   -   I. General.—Short, vertical and covered by overlapping             leaves, each leaf with a dominant axillary bud.         -   II. Stem texture.—Glabrous and fleshy.         -   III. Stem size.—A) Length (above soil level): usually             between 8 and 15.5 cm at anthesis. B) Diameter between 5 and             7.4 cm at ground level to the anthesis.         -   IV. Stem shape.—Cylindrical and with a narrower diameter at             the distal part.         -   V. Stem color.—7.5 GY 7/1. -   Leaves:     -   -   I. General.—Closely overlapping sessile leaves (formed in             acropetal succession) forming a dense rosette, the outline             of which in longitudinal section is roughly heart shaped.             The number of leaves fluctuates between 42 and 60 with a             5/13 phyllotaxy.         -   II. Texture.—A) Upper epidermal area: Glabrous, semirigid             and channeled (or concave) except at the leaf tip. B) Lower             epidermal area: Finely striated (longitudinally) and appears             covered with a white layer consisting of scale-like             trichomes.         -   III. Leaf arrangement.—Alternate and in rosette shape.         -   IV. Leaf margins.—Flat, with rarely found irregularly spaced             small deltoid-cuspidate hooked spines usually located on the             distal portions of leaves.         -   V. Leaf venation.—Parallel.         -   VI. Leaf shape.—Leaves are not uniform in shape and vary             with the position of the leaf on the stem. The basal or             oldest leaves are lanceolate while the base is considerably             expanded. There is a noticeable narrowing in width between             non-chlorophyllous (basal) and chlorophyllous (or main             portion) of the leaves. The longest or most mature leaves             are lanceolate in shape, but the base is without the arcuate             expansions of the preceding leaves. The remaining leaves (or             center leaves of the plant rosette) are lanceolate in form             with no expansion of width into the base.         -   VII. Leaf size (to anthesis).—A) Length: Usually between 64             and 89 cm for those leaves originated from the medium part             of the stem with a non-chlorophyllous base that usually is             between 2.7 and 6.5 cm in length. B) Width: Normally between             4.9 and 7.8 cm in the mid leaf area of the longest leaves.             The expanded basal disk usually has a maximum width of 9.3             to 13.4 cm. C) Thickness: In the longest leaves, it usually             varies between 2.34 to 3.55 mm at the center of the mid leaf             area and decrease laterally between 1.1 and 1.42 mm at the             margin, while becoming slightly thinner towards the tip. The             expanded basal disk at the mid stem area usually has a             maximum thickness of 2.05 to 3.48 mm at the center of the             blade and tapering laterally toward margins up to 0.48 to             0.94 mm. D) Terminal crown leaves: average size 9.4 cm,             number 77; and margin type smooth.         -   VIII. Leaf color.—A) Upper epidermal surface: 1. General:             dominant color is usually reddish purple, dark purple. The             color of the basal disk is predominantly white and light             purple. 2. Chlorophyllous basal disk area: commonly pale             white 3. Mid leaf area: commonly reddish purple (7.5 R             2/3). 4. Leaf tip area: commonly dark purple (7.5 R 1/6). B)             Lower epidermal surface (underside): 1. General: commonly             reddish purple to grayish red with pale white basal disk             area. 2. Lower epidermal surface: scaly surface with dark             colors, commonly grayish purple (7.5 R 5/2). -   Inflorescence (at anthesis):     -   -   I. General.—Flower composite from 112 to 208 fruitlets borne             per inflorescence of a long peduncle of approximately 11 to             17 cm length at the apical meristem. Individual bisexual             flowers that consists of three Sepals, Six Stamens, three             Stigmas and three Carpels. The inflorescence is             self-incompatible producing edible fruit parthenocarpically.         -   II. Texture.—Glabrous and fleshy.         -   III. Shape.—Oval with slightly raised flowers with a light             red to grayish red color in the crown.         -   IV. Size and color.—Comparable to specimens of Ananas             comosus var. comosus. Petal size: 1.65 cm. Petal color in             the apex: light purple (7.5 P 4/12).         -   V. Sepal size.—0.4-0.6 cm. Sepal color: reddish brown (7.5 R             3/4).         -   VI. Floral bract's length.—From 1.7 to 2.1 cm, serrated             margins (with tiny spines); reddish color 5 R 6/14. -   Crown:     -   -   I. General.—Usually one crown. Crown leaves are short and             erect to anthesis.         -   II. Leaf arrangement.—Alternate and in rosette shape.         -   III. Leaf margins.—Flat with smooth borders. Seldom very             small spines in the tip of one leaf.         -   IV. Size.—Average 24.3 cm. Weight: average 223.5 g.         -   V. Shape.—Medium crown with thin and semi-rigid leaves.         -   VI. Color.—Color of the terminal crown leaves: Reddish color             at the apex (7.5R 2/8) and grayish purple at the base (5 GY             8/6). -   Fruit (at harvest):     -   -   I. Size.—Usually with a weight between 1600 and 3300 grams             and an average weight of 2477 grams. Fruit core's diameter             3.02 cm.         -   II. Shape.—Cylindrical to slightly conic with flat and             medium size fruitlets. Medium crown with thin and semi-rigid             leaves. Average fruit's height 15-25 cm, fruit's diameter:             average 12.38 cm.         -   III. How borne.—The development of the fruit occurs from the             apical meristem of the plant on a long peduncle, usually             between 11 and 17 cm length.         -   IV. Color.—A) Shell: commonly red/purple (7.5 R 4/12), with             yellowish brown bract (2.5Y 8/8). Fruit peduncle light             yellow (10Y 9/10) B) Pulp: Usually yellow (10Y 9/12) to             light yellow (10Y 9/10).         -   V. Brix.—Typically, between 12.4 and 15.1 degrees, with an             average of 13.77 degrees.         -   VI. Total acid levels.—Usually between 0.26 and 0.91             milligrams of citric acid/ml of juice, with an average of             0.58 mg/ml.         -   VII. Vitamin C content reported as ascorbic acid             content.—Regularly between 25.58 and 70.13 mg/100 ml of             juice, with an average of 48.78 mg/100 ml.         -   Plant/fruit resistance/susceptibility to pest and             diseases.—The plant of the new variety ‘Vintage Ruby’             performs very similar to ‘MD-2’. Table 2 shows the             comparison of pineapple varieties ‘Vintage Ruby’, ‘MD-2’ and             ‘Champaka’ (not patented) and their resistance to pest and             diseases. -   Others:     -   -   I. Fertility.—This plant is self-incompatible. This is the             reason why the presence of sexual seeds is almost null. The             material used for planting are suckers and fruit crowns.         -   II. Vigor.—This plant has a greater vigor than its parents             F1 and ‘MD-2’.         -   III. Yield.—A population of this pineapple can have an             agronomic yield from 114 to 236 ton/ha.         -   IV. Plant use.—The fruit will be commercialized within the             fresh fruit and processed fruit markets.

V. This plant has none or very few (1) suckers.

Summary of the special characteristics of ‘Vintage Ruby’ hybrid: the plant of ‘Vintage Ruby’ presents differences compared to its parental lines, such as:

I. Red/purple shell color with yellow pulp: the backcross between F1 and ‘MD-2’, ended up in a combination of a fruit with bright red/purple shell and yellow pulp similar to ‘MD-2’.

II. Plant with absence of slips: ‘MD-2’ variety produces between 1-3 slips per plant, and the F1 produces between 4-6 slips per plant. By comparison, ‘Vintage Ruby’ doesn't produce slips at all, which reduces cosmetic and pest problems that can be originated by the contact of the slips with the fruit.

III. The fruit presents suitable levels of brix, citric acid and ascorbic acid similar to ‘MD-2’ and far superior than the F1. As a result of the backcross process, ‘Vintage Ruby’ has a red shell color at the time of full maturity, similar to the F1; and with fruit size, pulp color, and internal quality similar to the ‘MD-2’. This combination of characteristics is important to differentiate this hybrid from its parents; as shown on Table 3, when reproduced asexually, these characteristics are stable and reproducible for successive generations.

TABLE 1 Average score for select traits of the ‘Vintage Ruby’ hybrid. ‘Vintage Ruby’ represents the first plant evaluated when backcrossing ‘MD-2’ with M01‘901 (8-2-24); G1 represents the first asexual propagation of the selected hybrid ‘Vintage Ruby’. Ascorbic. Citric Fruit Number Acid (m Acid Weight of Generation n Brix g/100 ml) (mg/ml) (g) slips ‘Vintage Ruby’ 1 14.6 49.1 0.70 2400 0 G1 15 13.7 47.7 0.62 3039 0

-   Individual plant description: The following is an overview of a new     pineapple plant variety, that was developed through hybridization     process. in Buenos Aires, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. -   Plant age: 8 months after planting, and 150 days after forcing. -   Plant growth habit: Semi-upright. -   Plant diameter: Around 85 cm between opposite leaf tips. -   Plant height: 80.78 cm above ground surface. -   Stem:     -   -   Length.—Between 8 and 15.5 cm above ground surface.         -   Diameter.—Between 5 and 7.4 cm above ground surface. -   Leaves:     -   -   I. Number.—57 leaves.         -   II. Length.—77.39 cm the longest leaf.         -   III. Width.—(Largest leaves) at mid leaf (max.) 7.8 cm; at             basal disk area (max.) 14.4 cm. Leaf piping is absent.         -   IV. Thickness.—2.8 mm along the axis.         -   V. Color (from 5R 4/6 to 5RP 1/1).—A) Upper epidermal area —             Chlorophyllous area: Commonly purple and reddish purple             (from 5R 3/2 to 5R 1/4). B) Upper epidermal area — Non             chlorophyllous area: commonly pale white (5Y 8/1). C) Lower             epidermal area: Commonly from reddish purple to grayish             purple ((from 5R 9/3 to 7.5 R 5/2). Leaf anthocyanin             coloration is strong. -   Inflorescence: -   General: Composite flower with an inflorescence borne form a long     peduncle at the apical meristem. The flower is composed of 136     fruitlets. -   Comparison of ‘Vintage Ruby’ with other pineapple varieties: There     are many pineapple varieties growing worldwide; most varieties are     grown for local consumption, very few are grown for international     commercialization and market distribution. ‘Vintage Ruby’ could be     cultivated for exporting to United States, Europe, and other     countries. Most of the comparison data were generated to contrast     with ‘MD-2’ and ‘Morada’.     -   -   I. Petals.—The following describes the width and texture of             the Petals.

ID UPOV Trait Note Inflorescence 14 Size of bracts 1.9 ± 0.2 (cm) 15 Petal: color of 2 apex (purple red), base (white) 16 Petal length (mm) 23.4 ± 0.3  N/A Petal width (cm) 6.38 ± 0.4  N/A Petal Height 1.56 ± 0.3  N/A Petal texture very finely textured and feel smooth

-   -   -   II. Reproductive organs.—The following describes the             characteristics of the reproductive organs.

Trait Inflorescence Stigma (mm)  1.4 ± 0.36 Style (mm) 16.9 ± 1.07 Ovary (mm)  9.2 ± 1.02 Stamen (mm) 13.15 ± 1.17  Anther length 4.6 ± 0.4 (mm) Pollen (μm) 6.5 Stigma shape rounded Style shape tubular Ovary shape round Stamen shape tubular Anther shape Bilobed introrse Pollen shape oval Stigma color From 7.5P 9/3 to 7.5P 6/10 Style color Base = white, top = pale purple Ovary color White/pale yellowish Filament color Filament base = white, filament top = pale purple Anther color Pale yellow Pollen color transparent

-   -   -   III. Peduncle.—The length and diameter of the peduncle are             as follows.

Peduncle ID UPOV Trait Note 21 Length (cm) 14.6 ± 1.7 22 Diameter (cm)  3.0 ± 0.6 Table 2. depicts differences in susceptibility to pest and diseases: ‘Vintage Ruby’ and ‘Champaka’ are less susceptible than ‘MD-2’ to Thielaviopsis sp. (common fruit rot) and ‘Vintage Ruby’ and ‘MD-2’ are similar in their susceptibility to Elaphria sp. (a moth species).

TABLE 2 Susceptibility to pest and diseases of different commercial varieties. Pineapple Variety ‘Vintage Pest/Disease Ruby’ ‘MD-2’ ‘Champaka’ Elaphria sp.  S+  S+ S Mealybug (Dysmicocus S S S brevipes) Thecla (Strymon spp) S S S Thielaviopsis paradoxa S  S+ S (TV) Phytophtora parasitica S S S Helicotylenchus sp. S S S Heloidogyne sp. S S S Pratylenchus sp. S S S

-   The pineapple variety ‘Vintage Ruby’ has a post-harvest shelf life     similar to ‘MD-2’, showing similar performance in shell dehydration     studies. -   ‘Vintage Ruby’ characteristics differ from other varieties in the     following aspects. General characteristics of the fruit are as     follows (A) a fruitlet apex which is flat; (B) the flesh density is     medium; (C) the number pf fruitlets per syncarp is 120-140; (d) the     fruitlet characteristics are as follows:

ID UPOV Trait Note Fruit 31 Fruit shape (Medium 2 ovate) 32 Fruit length (cm) 19.8 ± 6.7 33 Fruit diameter (cm) 11.5 ± 3.4 34 Predominant color of 9 mature eye (red) 35 Fruit: Size (medium) 5 N/A Size of eye diameter  2.1 ± 0.7 width (cm) N/A Size of eye length (cm)  2.7 ± 0.3 N/A Color of immature eye 6 (Deep purple) 37 Fruitlet apex (flat) 2 38 Evenness of color of eyes 1 (even or slightly uneven)

-   -   -   I. Shell color.—Its shell color at mature and immature             stages is similar to the ‘Morada’ variety.         -   II. Weight and shape of fruit.—‘Vintage Ruby’ fruit weight             is significantly greater than ‘Morada's’, and similar to the             ‘MD-2’, and ‘Champaka’, with a cylindrical to slightly             conical fruit shape.         -   III. Ascorbic acid.—‘Vintage Ruby’ has a higher content of             ascorbic acid than its relative A. comosus cv. ‘Morada’, but             similar to ‘MD-2’ and ‘CO-2’.         -   IV. Citric acid.—‘Vintage Ruby’ citric acid content is             similar to ‘MD-2’.         -   V. Brix.—The sugar content (measured as brix degrees) of             ‘Vintage Ruby’ is similar to that found on ‘MD-2’, higher             than ‘Singapore Spanish’ and somewhat lower to ‘Josephine’             variety.         -   VI. Age to forcing.—‘Vintage Ruby’ is vigorous and can reach             forcing plant size 7 to 8 months after planting. Although             this depends on the planting material used and the desired             plant weight for floral induction, under similar conditions,             ‘MD-2’ which reaches an optimal forcing size 8.5 months             after planting.         -   VII. Leaf spines.—This characteristic is commonly used to             differentiate pineapple plants from other varieties. The             color of the leaf spines are as follows: Tip: pale yellow             10Y 9/1, base: pale red 2.5R 3/8. ‘Vintage Ruby’ does not             have conspicuous or regular thorns on the leaf like its             parental ‘Morada’. It does have inconspicuous thorns at the             leaf tips, like its parental ‘MD-2’, although ‘MD-2’ often             presents irregular thorns on the edges of the leaf blade as             well.             Table 3 compares some of the most important characteristics             for fresh fruit versus local varieties for exportation. This             chart shows comparisons between ‘Vintage Ruby’ and other             varieties.

TABLE 3 Comparative characteristics of different pineapple varieties and cultivars Number Ascorbic Acid Variety/ of slips Fruit weight (g) (mg/100 ml) Cultivar⁽¹⁰⁾ Average Range Average Range Average ‘Vintage Ruby’ 0 0 2477 1600-3300 48.78 ‘MD-2’⁽¹⁾ 1.2 0-3 1820 1070-2560 53.06 ‘Morada’⁽²⁾ 7.57 4-9 1887 1566-2000 20.3 ‘Honey Gold’ 1.5 0-3 1033  450-1678 21.14 ‘Champaka 153’⁽²⁾ 1.1 1710  420-3010 12.91 ‘Champaka F152’ 1.5 2328 ‘CO-2’⁽³⁾ 2-3 2059 1297-2590 ‘Singapore  2-12 1000 Spanish’⁽⁴⁾ ‘Sarawak’⁽⁴⁾ 0 2000-4000 ‘Mauritius’⁽⁴⁾ 0  500-1500 ‘Josephine’⁽⁵⁾ 1100-1300 ‘Scarlett’⁽⁵⁾ 1400-2000 ‘Red Spanish’⁽⁵⁾ 1-3 1200-2000 ‘T'ainung 11’⁽⁶⁾ 6.9 991  733-1269 ‘Imperial’⁽⁷⁾ 9 1792 ‘Perolera’⁽⁷⁾  8-10 1800 ‘Pemambuco’⁽⁸⁾ 1000-1500 ‘Primavera’⁽⁸⁾  7-10 1300 ‘Queen’⁽⁹⁾ 10  500-1000 26 Variety/ Citric Acid (mg/ml) Brix (+20 ) Cultivar⁽¹⁰⁾ Range Average Range Average Range ‘Vintage Ruby’ 25.58-70.13 0.58 0.26-0.91 13.77 12.4-15.1 ‘MD-2’⁽¹⁾   37-69.06 0.6 0.36-0.84 15.05 12.9-17.2 ‘Morada’⁽²⁾  9.9-24.9 0.69 0.58-0.86 13.51 12.2-15.1 ‘Honey Gold’ 14.73-37.36 0.98 0.67-1.33 16.18 14.4-18.1 ‘Champaka 153’⁽²⁾  8.10-17.72 0.72 0.54-0.90 14.33 11.6-17.0 ‘Champaka F152’ 0.73 14.97 ‘CO-2’⁽³⁾  30.8-55.50 0.42-0.91 15.0-16.7 ‘Singapore 0.50-0.60 10.0-12.0 Spanish’⁽⁴⁾ ‘Sarawak’⁽⁴⁾ 0.30-0.65 14.0-17.0 ‘Mauritius’⁽⁴⁾ 0.40-0.60 15.0-17.0 ‘Josephine’⁽⁵⁾ 17.0-22.0 ‘Scarlett’⁽⁵⁾ 15.0-18.0 ‘Red Spanish’⁽⁵⁾ 12 ‘T'ainung 11’⁽⁶⁾  1.40-18.50 0.5 0.40-0.60 14 13.2-15.1 ‘Imperial’⁽⁷⁾ 0.62 15.8 ‘Perolera’⁽⁷⁾ 0.64 13.1 14.0-16.0 ‘Pemambuco’⁽⁸⁾ ‘Primavera’⁽⁸⁾ 0.51 13 ‘Queen’⁽⁹⁾ 0.56 14.0-16.0 ⁽¹⁾Pindeco's historical data base and monthly research report April 2001. ⁽²⁾Pindeco's fruit historical data base. Pindeco's forcing plant weight data base. ⁽³⁾Plant patent 8,863. ⁽⁴⁾Wee, Y. C. 1972. Some common pineapple cultivars of west Malaysia. Malays Pineapple pp 7-13. ⁽⁵⁾Bartholomew et al. 2003 The Pineapple, Botany, Production and Uses. ⁽⁶⁾Chang, Ching-Chyn, 1995 Tainung No. 13. Pineapple. Jour. Agric. Res. China 44(2):287-296. ⁽⁷⁾Pinto da Cunha et al. O abacaxizeiro. Pineapple News Issue No 10 May 2003. ⁽⁸⁾Pinto da Cunha et al. O abacaxizeiro. Py et al. The pineapple Cultivation and uses. ⁽⁹⁾Del Monte pineapple germplasm collection database. ⁽¹⁰⁾Cultivars are unpatented unless indicated otherwise. Literature: Munsell Color chart for Plant Tissues. Google Play. Android App. 2017. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Ananas comosus plant named ‘Vintage Ruby’, as illustrated and described herein. 